Are Oklahoma County Records Public?

The Oklahoma Open Records Act (ORA) gives members of the public the right to access government agency public records. According to 51 O.S. § 24A.3, public records refer to documents created or received by public bodies when conducting official business. Such documents include papers, computer tape, books, disks, microfilm, film recordings, photographs, and video recordings. The county’s public records include Oklahoma County court records, vital records, property records, crime records, and statistics.

Pursuant to 51 O.S. § 24A.2, the ORA aims to facilitate accessibility to government records so members of the public can exercise their inherent political power. The ORA also protects citizens' privacy rights by exempting some records from public disclosure. Any public agency that intentionally violates the ORA and is convicted is guilty of a misdemeanor. They will be required to pay a maximum fine of $500.00) or a jail term of 1 year (51 O.S. § 24A.17).

What is Exempted Under the Oklahoma Public Records Act?

According to the 51 O.S. § 24A.5, all public bodies’ records are open to anyone for inspection, copying, or reproduction during normal business hours. However, the act excludes certain records from public disclosure because of confidentiality reasons. When a portion of a record contains exempt material, public bodies have a duty to provide such record to requesters after deleting the exempt portions. Exempted records are only open to subjects of records, their legal representatives, or anyone with a court order. Examples of such records are:

• Trade secrets
• Juvenile records
• Adoption records
• Social Security numbers
• HIPAA protected information
• Board of Medicolegal Investigations files
• Student records, excluding directory information
• Personal information contained in driver records
• Records subject to attorney-client and physician-patient privileges
• Any investigative evidence of a scheme or plan to commit an act of terrorism
• Personnel records associated with internal personnel investigations (51 O.S. § 24A.7)
• Records of information discussed in a public body meeting that is closed to the public.
• Market research and plans conducted and developed by the Oklahoma Medical Center
• Any question banks, test forms, and answer keys developed for state licensure examinations.
• Records pertaining to mental health diagnosis, counseling, or treatment of a licensee kept by a professional licensing board.
• The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education Institutions or agencies will not release confidential information about current or prospective donors.
• Litigation files and investigatory reports of the Attorney General of the State of Oklahoma and the Workers’ Compensation Commission.
• Personal information (including last names, social security numbers, addresses, or tax identification numbers) of persons claiming a lottery prize submitted to the Oklahoma Lottery Commission.
• Any audio or video recording that depicts the death of a law enforcement officer who was acting in the course of their official duties
• Bidding information whose disclosure would give an unfair advantage to competitors or bidders.
• Crop and livestock reports are provided by ranchers, farmers, and agribusinesses to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture.

Oklahoma County Public Records Search

Most agencies in Oklahoma County have specific guidelines on how members of the public can access their records. Generally, the tips below can easily help record seekers find the appropriate record maintained by any agency in the county:

• Identify the type of record and agency: Requesters must know the specific record they want to inspect or copy. Afterward, check online for the specific agency that maintains the desired record. For example, the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office keeps jail, inmate, and arrest records, while the Oklahoma County Treasurer maintains property tax records. Submitting public record requests to the appropriate agency facilitates the search and reduces the potential for denials.
• Submit a request: Some public agencies have online forms or portals for submitting public records requests. However, the most common method of submitting a request is through written applications like mail or email. Agencies expect requesters to provide a sufficient description of the desired record to facilitate the search. Record seekers can also visit the record custodians’ offices during business hours to submit requests in person.
• Fees: The record custodian will charge a small fee for copying public records, but they might provide free inspection of records. They can also waive the fee if it is in the public interest. Copying fees will not exceed $0.25 per page and $1.00 per page for certified copies.

Find Public Records For Free in Oklahoma County

Interested persons can find free Oklahoma County public records on some government agencies’ websites. For example, requesters can use the Property Search tool on the Oklahoma County Assessor's website to view property information without charges. Oklahoma County public records can also be viewed for free on third-party aggregate databases. This free access only returns basic information about the record, so users seeking full reports or comprehensive information will have to pay a small fee. It is important to know that most third-party sites are not reliable because they tend to have outdated information. Therefore, users should always verify the information they retrieve from them.

How to Remove Information From Public Records Free

Individuals can have their information removed from public records if they meet certain eligibility criteria provided by the record custodians. For example, arrestees who meet the requirements in Oklahoma Statutes Title 22 § 18 & Title 22 § 19; Title 22 § 991c can have their criminal records expunged in Oklahoma County. Most agencies have designated forms on their websites that can be used to restrict public access to records. For example, eligible individuals must send a Petition for Expungement Form to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) for $150, payable by cashier's checks or money orders to have their criminal records expunged.

Who Can Access Oklahoma County Public Records in Oklahoma?

According to 51 O.S. § 24A.5, any person can access Oklahoma County public records during a public body’s business hours. However, not everyone can inspect or copy records exempted from public disclosure. They are only open to subjects of records, their legal representatives, individuals with court orders, or government employees who need them for business purposes.

What Happens if I Am Refused a Public Records Request?

The Oklahoma Open Records Act authorizes public bodies to release their records to members of the public. However, a public body can deny a public record request if the record is deemed confidential by law or causes an excessive disruption of the agency’s essential functions. If a public record request is denied, the requester may file a civil suit for declaratory or injunctive relief against the responsible public agency (51 O.S. § 24A.17). However, they must first notify the agency at least 10 days before filing the lawsuit. The notice must also be provided to the Attorney General.